PASADENA, Calif. – Graduating senior Nina Solovyeva made a Hollywood ending out of her final home match of her playing career with Caltech Women's Tennis, opening the day with a doubles win and clinching the decisive fifth match point in a commanding singles win against the California Lutheran University Regals.

Before the match, the Houston, Texas native was honored in a moving ceremony including speeches by Caltech Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, Betsy Mitchell and Women's Tennis Head Coach Benay Weintraub.

Solovyeva, along with sophomore doubles teammate Yoyo Benchetrit, recorded the first doubles win of the day for the Beavers, coasting through an 8-4 set in the second doubles flight. While the Regals were able to tie the match up at 1-1, junior Athena Kolli and sophomore Payal Patel regained a one-match lead for Caltech with their own 8-4 win in #3 Doubles.

The Beavers then opened singles play with a storm, with all six competitors defeating their Cal Lutheran rivals in their opening sets and eventually claiming the next four consecutive match points. Arora finished first on Court 3 with a nearly flawless 6-0, 6-1 result, and regional No. 18 Benchetrit followed closely with a 6-0, 6-2 win in #2 Singles, leaving Caltech just one point away from the team victory.

The clincher came from Court 4, where Solovyeva sealed the Regals' fate with matching 6-1 sets in the fourth position for her eighth singles win of the 2023 season, and her fourth this year against Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) rivals.

Patel picked up the Beavers' last match point of the day on Court 5 with 6-1 and 6-2 set scores. 

"A conference win is always great; at home and on Senior Day makes it even more special," Coach Weintraub said. I am so happy for Nina winning doubles and singles in her final home match. She has been an exceptional leader, kind person and resilient competitor. She embraces challenges and never gives up. I can always counter on her to think and be creative when constructing points. It has been an honor to coach Nina in her senior year, and I am so proud of her."

The Beavers will face Occidental College on Saturday, Apr. 22 to wrap up the SCIAC regular season.